Mayank Joshi | India and Jamaica: Building resilient partnership

As India celebrates its 77th Republic Day today (January 26), we are reminded that this occasion is not only a constitutional journey; it is also an opportunity to reflect on the strength and direction of India’s global partnerships, including our deep rooted relationship with Jamaica.

India values its relationship with Jamaica as not only symbolic, but also resilient and increasingly strategic.

Jamaica has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. The nation’s response – anchored in leadership, community solidarity, and international cooperation – has been inspiring. India was swift in extending support through a first-ever cross-Atlantic Indian Air Force C17 aircraft operation for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, delivering medical supplies, essential equipment, and the BHISHM Cube, an advanced, modular, and portable medical unit developed by India for rapid disaster response.

The recent interaction between India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Andrew Holness on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg reinforced our support to Jamaica’s efforts to build back stronger, and imparted a strategic direction to our growing partnership.

BEYOND HISTORY, TOWARD STRATEGY

India and Jamaica relationship has been sustained by shared democratic values, Commonwealth traditions, and deep people-to-people links.

Indians who arrived in Jamaica over 180 years ago, and those who came later, became an integral part of the country’s social and cultural fabric. Their legacy is visible in Jamaican heritage, cuisine, festivals, entrepreneurship, and social life. Landmarks such as Jamaica Marg in New Delhi, Dr B. R. Ambedkar Avenue in Kingston, the India–Jamaica Friendship HopeGarden at Hope Gardens, the electronic scoreboard at Sabina Park, the friendship plaque in Gordon House, and Indian-themed murals in Downtown Kingston, all stand as reminders of that shared journey.

Today, in an evolving and increasingly complex geo-strategic environment, India–Jamaica relations are being shaped by shared development priorities.

Both countries are committed to multilateralism and development-centred global governance, particularly on issues affecting the Global South. Our cooperation is strong and growing in the India–CARICOM framework, as well as through India-led platforms such as the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the Global Biofuel Alliance.

We are expanding our cooperation focusing on practical solutions in diverse areas including defence and security, sustainable development, sports, culture and information, digital public transformation, healthcare, and renewable energy. Capacity building is a key pillar of this cooperation. Over the past decade, more than 170 Jamaican professionals and defence officers have been trained under India’s ITEC programme. More recently, over 250 Jamaican law enforcement officials participated in specialised online training conducted by Rashtriya Raksha University (National Defence University) in India, strengthening institutional and security cooperation.

TRANSFORMATION IN INDIA

India is progressing rapidly toward becoming the world’s third-largest economy, driven by reform, innovation, and inclusive growth. With GDP growth around 8 per cent, foreign direct investment approaching US$100 billion, and exports crossing US$ 820 billion, India has positioned itself as a stable, reliable, and opportunity-rich global partner. This momentum is guided by the national commitment to the vision of Prime Minister Modi for a viksit Bharat (developed India) by 2047.

Guided by our Make in India Mission, India is integrating deeply into global value chains. India is now the world’s second-largest manufacturer of mobile phones and the third-largest exporter. As the “Pharmacy of the World,” India supplies over 60 per cent of global vaccines and ranks among the top pharmaceutical producers by volume. India stack – UPI, Adhaar and Digilocker, electric vehicles, green technologies, agricultural exports, media and entertainment, space sector, nuclear energy, textiles, IT services, and professional services continue to expand India’s global footprint.

With over 200,000 recognised startups, India has built one of the world’s largest entrepreneurial ecosystems. More than 1,800 Global Capability Centres operate in India, including over 500 focused on artificial intelligence, employing more than six million professionals and delivering complex, high-value services at global scale.

Under the IndiaAI Mission, India is expanding national AI capability with an emphasis on access and inclusion. Over 38,000 GPUs have been onboarded and made available at affordable rates, lowering entry barriers for startups, researchers, and institutions. In February 2026, India will host the India–AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, bringing together governments, industry, researchers, and innovators from across the world.

At the same time, India’s Semiconductor Mission and National Green Hydrogen Mission address strategic vulnerabilities in supply chains and energy security – areas that will define economic competitiveness in the coming decades.

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

As global actors rethink supply chains and service delivery, Jamaica’s strategic location, English-speaking workforce, and growing logistics and digital ecosystem position it well for nearshoring and regional access. India’s strengths in IT, fintech, AI-enabled services, manufacturing, and business-process solutions complement Jamaica’s vision to move beyond traditional outsourcing into higher-value services. To promote collaboration between Indian firms and Jamaican enterprises, the High Commission of India in Kingston has launched the India–Jamaica Business Forum with the support of JAMPRO.

In a world undergoing constant change, enduring partnerships are defined by trust, consistency, and shared values. Guided by the spirit of “one people, one family, one future,” India remains a steadfast and reliable partner of Jamaica, committed to strengthening a friendship built on goodwill, mutual respect, complementary strengths, and shared interests. Our relationship continues to move decisively from intent to implementation, shaping a more resilient and forward-looking strategic partnership.

On the occasion of India’s Republic Day, I extend my warm greetings to Sir Patrick Allen, governor-general, the Government and people of Jamaica, and thank them for the everlasting warmth and goodwill.

Mayank Joshi is the high commissioner of India to Jamaica. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and cons.kingston@mea.gov.in